New fire boss to speak amid merger ‘row’

THE new chairman of the Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority, Councillor Chris Devine, addresses Wiltshire Council on Tuesday ahead of an expected row over the proposed service merger.

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Plans to merge the authority with Dorset Fire and Rescue Service to cut costs have recently been thrown into doubt, after north Wiltshire MP James Gray expressed concerns over emergency response times.

This has been disputed by Trowbridge councillor Graham Payne, who resigned as authority chairman last month, claiming he had lost support of the board. The meeting is at County Hall at 10.45am.

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Comments (5)

I am still waiting to hear from those who oppose the Wiltshire/Dorset merger which fire stations they are proposing to close. For having looked at the figures - a need to find £3.9 million - that seems the only way to go if they don't want the merger. Perhaps James Gray, Jane Scott, John Thomson and Jon Hubbard can enlitghten us.

I am still waiting to hear from those who oppose the Wiltshire/Dorset merger which fire stations they are proposing to close. For having looked at the figures - a need to find £3.9 million - that seems the only way to go if they don't want the merger.
Perhaps James Gray, Jane Scott, John Thomson and Jon Hubbard can enlitghten us.brandx

I am still waiting to hear from those who oppose the Wiltshire/Dorset merger which fire stations they are proposing to close. For having looked at the figures - a need to find £3.9 million - that seems the only way to go if they don't want the merger. Perhaps James Gray, Jane Scott, John Thomson and Jon Hubbard can enlitghten us.

Score: 4

lokalgirl says...6:04am Mon 28 Jul 14

Should have listened to Graham Payne!!!!

Should have listened to Graham Payne!!!!lokalgirl

Should have listened to Graham Payne!!!!

Score: 3

Redmist says...2:00pm Tue 29 Jul 14

Is it true that the favoured merger option was rejected by the leader of the council? Now supposing that the remaining two options don't make sufficient savings the question must be asked "is there a fourth option?" Watch out for a rabbit from the hat now that the hares have been set running.

Is it true that the favoured merger option was rejected by the leader of the council? Now supposing that the remaining two options don't make sufficient savings the question must be asked "is there a fourth option?" Watch out for a rabbit from the hat now that the hares have been set running.Redmist

Is it true that the favoured merger option was rejected by the leader of the council? Now supposing that the remaining two options don't make sufficient savings the question must be asked "is there a fourth option?" Watch out for a rabbit from the hat now that the hares have been set running.

Score: 1

brandx says...1:31pm Wed 30 Jul 14

Basically Wiltshire Council's Leader Jane Scott argues that she did not have sufficient information to make a decision on the future of Wiltshire Fire Service. This is untrue. She and most Wiltshire Coundcilloirs have been fully briefed by the Chief Fire Officer and all the figures highlight the case for a merger. At the Council meeting, those members with experience of the Fire Authority made clear the case for the merger. The others appear to be in denial. Another vote will take place on 21st October Perhaps Jane Scott will have found a crock of gold by then. I doubt it and if she does perhaps it should go to restore the Youth Service.

Basically Wiltshire Council's Leader Jane Scott argues that she did not have sufficient information to make a decision on the future of Wiltshire Fire Service. This is untrue. She and most Wiltshire Coundcilloirs have been fully briefed by the Chief Fire Officer and all the figures highlight the case for a merger.
At the Council meeting, those members with experience of the Fire Authority made clear the case for the merger. The others appear to be in denial.
Another vote will take place on 21st October Perhaps Jane Scott will have found a crock of gold by then. I doubt it and if she does perhaps it should go to restore the Youth Service.brandx

Basically Wiltshire Council's Leader Jane Scott argues that she did not have sufficient information to make a decision on the future of Wiltshire Fire Service. This is untrue. She and most Wiltshire Coundcilloirs have been fully briefed by the Chief Fire Officer and all the figures highlight the case for a merger. At the Council meeting, those members with experience of the Fire Authority made clear the case for the merger. The others appear to be in denial. Another vote will take place on 21st October Perhaps Jane Scott will have found a crock of gold by then. I doubt it and if she does perhaps it should go to restore the Youth Service.

Score: 1

Ray Vasey says...10:42pm Wed 30 Jul 14

Interesting that both Chief of Wiltshire and Dorset say they can make the savings needed and avoid cuts to firefighters, fire engines and fire stations if the Services merge. Darth Scott wants to expand her Empire so is desperate for control not to be diluted across the County Boundary. Following installation of her puppet (Devine) a series of secret meetings took place. The Labour and independent Cllrs and Graham Payne were not invited. At these meetings you'd think the club would come up with a viable alternative that would fully ensure front line services were protected. Because after all, we the public are what most important. But oh no, not a single whisper of how the funding gap is going to be filled. Not a single talk of a plan B. Not a single guarantee that the service currently provided to us will not be cut to shreds. Not a financial plan or business case. This is the trouble when power hungry politicians want to create an empire they really don't give a monkeys about much else. Ask Luke Skywalker. So in reality it's us the public that suffer. The sooner this dreadful woman is voted out the better. Morale at county hall is at an all time low. Redundancies left right and centre. Working harder, longer for no pay. And to top it all Jane Scott thinks she's worth a 36.5% hike in her "expenses". Absolutely sickening.

Interesting that both Chief of Wiltshire and Dorset say they can make the savings needed and avoid cuts to firefighters, fire engines and fire stations if the Services merge.
Darth Scott wants to expand her Empire so is desperate for control not to be diluted across the County Boundary.
Following installation of her puppet (Devine) a series of secret meetings took place. The Labour and independent Cllrs and Graham Payne were not invited. At these meetings you'd think the club would come up with a viable alternative that would fully ensure front line services were protected. Because after all, we the public are what most important.
But oh no, not a single whisper of how the funding gap is going to be filled. Not a single talk of a plan B. Not a single guarantee that the service currently provided to us will not be cut to shreds. Not a financial plan or business case.
This is the trouble when power hungry politicians want to create an empire they really don't give a monkeys about much else. Ask Luke Skywalker. So in reality it's us the public that suffer.
The sooner this dreadful woman is voted out the better. Morale at county hall is at an all time low. Redundancies left right and centre. Working harder, longer for no pay. And to top it all Jane Scott thinks she's worth a 36.5% hike in her "expenses". Absolutely sickening.Ray Vasey

Interesting that both Chief of Wiltshire and Dorset say they can make the savings needed and avoid cuts to firefighters, fire engines and fire stations if the Services merge. Darth Scott wants to expand her Empire so is desperate for control not to be diluted across the County Boundary. Following installation of her puppet (Devine) a series of secret meetings took place. The Labour and independent Cllrs and Graham Payne were not invited. At these meetings you'd think the club would come up with a viable alternative that would fully ensure front line services were protected. Because after all, we the public are what most important. But oh no, not a single whisper of how the funding gap is going to be filled. Not a single talk of a plan B. Not a single guarantee that the service currently provided to us will not be cut to shreds. Not a financial plan or business case. This is the trouble when power hungry politicians want to create an empire they really don't give a monkeys about much else. Ask Luke Skywalker. So in reality it's us the public that suffer. The sooner this dreadful woman is voted out the better. Morale at county hall is at an all time low. Redundancies left right and centre. Working harder, longer for no pay. And to top it all Jane Scott thinks she's worth a 36.5% hike in her "expenses". Absolutely sickening.

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